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"The less educated have more sense of justice" (仗義每多屠狗輩) you would love MK once you know MK by譚蕙芸 on 10/10/2014

As a blueblood (*which means middle or upper class in Hong Kong), I had prejudice against Mong Kok (MK). Triads, foul languages, the fights between “leftists" and "rightists", all these resulted in my reluctance to go to MK. The props for protest here are so freaking weird: single beds, bunk beds, the alter of the Chinese God Guan Gong (關公) as the guardian of roadblocks, the statue of Jesus Christ. All Gods from different cultures gather here, showing a sign of the unity of the world. I have heard that there are some playing table tennis, having hot pots, making marshmallow in the middle of roads, which is really...

However, to be fair, one should go to MK before judging it. Tonight I went to MK for a while and discovered some of its uniqueness. Compared with the "well-organized", "courteous" Hong Kong island, the "grassroot" MK is more energetic and has find its order out of chaos, which is something irreplaceable. In Admiralty and Causeway Bay (CWB), you can see different cliques chatting and discussing, but the interaction is limited to those who already know each other; in MK, you can see people of different background talking to each other, tolerance and acceptance are what prevails here.

In an area which is called "chatting area" (In fact it is just a cleared section of the road), strangers sit down and chat. They can sit on the sofa (please don't ask where the sofa comes from, I don't know), or chairs (once you go there, someone will give you a folding chair). Franking speaking, these strangers' lives do not intersect with each other. If there was no Umbrella Movement, they would not meet each other in their whole lives: an old man from Shan Dong were commenting on the current situation with Northern Chinese accent, while a young office lady listened attentively. Next to them, a 50-year-old local spoke about his stories of fighting against triads in Mong Kok.

As an experienced journalist, I knew this picture is VERY rare. In Hong Kong, these three types of people, belong to completely different social groups. Among them, a girl of post-80s generation - Keung, works at a network company. As the Chief Secretary of Administration Carrie Lam called off the talk with HKFS (*the sort-of representative of protesters), Keung worried that chaos might appear at Mong Kok, therefore she went to MK to maintain order, in order to protect the reputation of the Umbrella Movement, which upholds "peace and non-violence". Keung said that she had been to Admirality, but she found that MK is energetic and full of "grassroots' creativity" which is ever-evolving. "I am addicted to MK." Keung said.

The Shan Dong old man, speaking Mandarin in a high-pitched voice, said that he had participated in June-fourth incident. Afterwards he went to Hong Kong and speculated in property market to get rich. He said he understands the simplemindedness of the students, and he also thought that the government will not compromise and thus this movement will not be effective. As a resident living in MK who visits the occupied area everyday, the old man claimed himself to be "neutral". Although this old man did not support the movement, everyone still listened to him patiently: people with different opinions can discuss with each other rationally at MK. This kind of tolerance and acceptance is truly amazing.

There are many grassroots male in the occupied area of MK. These men feel weird and uneasy going to Admiralty and CWB, but in MK they know it is where they belong. No wonder there is a saying on the internet - "Real men are those who guard MK". (Though this saying is so sexist, I can't help but agree with it. Admiralty is "well-mannered", CWB is "Kawaii" and MK is where grassroots men find their manhood.)

Casual worker Mr. Choi said, he used to not care about political reform. However, on that day when triads attacked MK, he put aside his job and went to MK without hesitation. "I used to be a coward, but on that day I 'protected the canopy' (*the sort-of headquater of the Umbrella Movement at MK). It was the most courageous moment of my life (Mr Choi is fifty years old). I don't really know why I wasn't scared."

Brother Dong who is also fifty years old, operates a fish shop at West Central wet market. He loved practising kung fu when he was young. "I guess I can can block a few punches for the students as I had trainings before.", Dong said. Even Mrs. Dong is mad with him (for putting himself in danger), brother Dong still visits MK all the time.

Brother Dong said that he felt alienated when staying overnight at Admiralty: "Those people at Admiralty dress very nice, like they are upper class or middle class. Grassroots like me feel uneasy when those upper class look at us like we are going to ruin the movement, but here at MK I feel so comfortable. Everyone around talk the same way. In Admiralty I am a stranger, Admirality does not need me, MK needs me."

The performance of the fish shop owned by Brother Dong has dropped due to the Umbrella Movement, because everyone is busy with the movement and no one cares to cook their dinner. However Dong thought that the movement matters more: "Temporary drop of sales is not really a big deal, as the movement has a long-term effect on our future.". Many of his friends are against the Umbrella movement therefore Dong has received many anti-movement messages on his cell phone. He replied with "Having conscience is more important than earning money! Don't send me all these "fifty-cents" articles (*articles that are pro-China and pro-government) again, or else I would be VERY mad!" Before Brother Dong's departure, I asked for his consent to write down his story. Dong did not only agree but also asked me to publicize it: "Let more people know! The less educated have more sense of justice, those dressed in suits are not reliable."

A few steps away, I met KK, a paralyzed man sitting in an electric wheelchair. Under the dim street light, I noticed his friendly smile, therefore I asked "Can I talk to you for while?" He said yes kindly. This is what MK is like, everyone can start a conversation with strangers freely.

KK is forty-nine years old and his body is paralyzed due to a car accident 17 years ago, the only parts that move normally are his head and left hand. "Why are you here at MK?" I asked. KK replied, he has been a fan of online radio, and has developed his own view of politics. As KK is in a wheelchair, he could not join the protest on Hong Kong Island: "There is no elevator at Admiralty, so I can't leave the MTR station. There are so many curbs at Connaught Road Central, so I can't really go there." Since KK lives at MK, his private nurse can help him to go to the streets and to join the movement.

What KK said has compelled me to reflect on myself. I had written about the social policy helping disability years ago, and got to know the problem of the design of Admiralty station, that there is no elevator which provides direct access to the platform. The only facility provided is a "monster"(*elevator for wheelchair) hanging on the stairs, which requires the assistance of a MTR staff in order to use it. The frequent breakdown of this "monster" often results in wheelchair user hanging in the halfway of stairs. As this "hanging" is insulting to many wheelchair users, they refuse to use the "monster". I have never considered that if Umbrella movement only took place at Admiralty, some wheelchair users would be excluded.

KK recalled the night when MK was full of triads and police. He "drove" his wheelchair all the way through Reclamation Street and Argyle Street to where the police stationed, which shocked them for a little. I could not help but to feel breathless when I heard this part, but KK seemed to enjoy recalling the excitement of that night. He has continued to support the movement by being "on duty" at night and resting during daytime. To KK, MK is the only place where he can join the movement. If MK falls, he has no choice but to return home and listen to online radio about the news of Umbrella movement.

Middle class like us who always claims that "democracy belongs to everyone", protests in a way that somehow discriminates against grassroots and disabled people. For this reason, MK means a lot and it should not be given up. Protecting MK is not for the sake of protecting Admirality as a "headquater" of the movement, it is to empower the grassroots and marginalized ones, so that they can participate in fighting for democracy like everyone else.

Original Text:
【佔領】仗義每多屠狗輩，識佔梗係佔旺角 ／ 譚蕙芸／10/10/2014

作為一個 blueblood，對旺角場一直有偏見。黑社會出動，粗口橫飛，左右膠之爭，已教我這個斯文人有點抗拒。這裡的示威「道具」更騎呢到爆，單人牀，碌架床，守護路障的關公神壇（今晚親眼見有人誠心上香，O哂嘴）；耶穌像，滿天神佛，世界大同。今晚聽講還有人在馬路開枱打乒乓波、打邊爐、棉花糖機都出埋，實在有點那個。

又係果句，你去過現場先至講。今晚行咗一個圈，已發現旺角的獨特味道。相比港島井井有條斯文有禮，旺角的草根活力亂中有序，是其他佔領區沒法替代。在金鐘和銅鑼灣，你會看到一圈圈的人閒聊，但只限本身已認識的朋友才會有交流；只有旺角，你看到一個包容的氣氛，不同背景的人可以圍埋一齊打牙骹。

在一個劃為「吹水區」的範圍內（不過就是一段空的馬路），本來是陌路人會坐下來吹水。大家可以坐沙發（不要問我那裡找來的沙發），或坐櫈仔（你埋去就有人向你派摺椅）。坦白講，他們平日的生活根本不會交匯。若果沒有佔領運動，根本大纜都扯唔埋：一個來自山東的阿伯用北方腔普通話大談當前形勢；八十後斯文辦公室女郎用心聆聽；五十歲的本地阿伯談在旺角對抗黑社會的事跡。

我這等「老練」的記者，一看就知這個畫面「極罕」。這三種人，在平日的香港，根本屬於完全不同的社群。少女「阿薑」是八十後，在網絡公司任職，她說，今晚林鄭月娥說停止對話，她擔心旺角亂，放工多累也要下來撐，希望維持秩序，免市民口實。阿薑說，以往都去過金鐘，但落旺角發現這裡的民間創意豐富，生命力旺盛，抗爭手法抵死多變，好像會「進化」一樣，「落旺角落到上咗癮」。

山東阿叔，以高八度捲舌普通話高聲談話，聲稱自己參加過八九民運，之後來港炒樓致富。他說明白學生的單純，但認為政府不會妥協，認為此場運動不會有果效。他自稱是「中立派」，住在旺角，每天都下來觀察一下。難得是他不支持佔領，大家都耐心聽他大發偉論，不同政見的人可以共存討論，中間沒火藥味，只有一種民間的包容，令人嘖嘖稱奇。

旺角佔領區特別多基層男性。他們在金鐘銅鑼灣感到「不自在」，在旺角就找到自己的存在價值。怪不得網上有句說話「守過旺角才是真正男人」。（雖然我覺得這句好性別歧視，但細想不無道理。金鐘太斯文，銅鑼灣 kawaii，旺角就讓基層男性找到自己的 manhood。）

做散工的蔡先生揚言，以前不關心政改，那天黑社會襲旺角，就拋下手上的工作，二話不說出旺角，他形容：「我以前都怕事，但那天我『守住個棚』，真係『咁大個仔』（他已經五十幾歲）最有勇氣一次。唔知點解，我唔覺得驚！」

同樣是五十多歲的東哥，自稱「體力勞動」人士，在西環街市經營魚檔。他解釋，年輕時愛好打功夫，「叫做食過吓夜粥，替學生抵擋兩拳還可以」，即使太太不滿，他還是經常來旺角。

東哥說，自己曾到金鐘留守，但卻感到被排斥。周身不聚財：「金鐘啲人衣著光鮮啲，上等人咁，中產味太重，我呢啲基層去到，佢地啲眼光令我唔係好自在，好似懷疑我來搞事。但來到旺角就好舒服，啲人講嘢同聲同氣。在金鐘我覺得自己是異類，金鐘不需要我，旺角需要我。」

東哥經營魚檔，生意也受佔中影響，因為市民掛住示威，沒人煮飯，游水魚也賣少了。但他覺得抗爭重要：「短暫的損失我承受到，上街係為咗更長遠的未來，為大眾做事」。他形容，朋友大多反對佔中，在手機收到不少反佔中訊息，東哥這樣回覆老友：「良心比賺錢緊要！唔好再畀我睇五毛文章，以免我火爆！」道別前，我問東哥可否寫出他的故事？他不但同意，還肉緊加多句：「畀多啲人知！所謂仗義每多屠狗輩，西裝友靠唔住。」

行多幾步，給我遇到KK，一位坐在電動輪椅的癱瘓男子。在昏黃的街燈下，我跟他的眼神相遇，他友善的一笑，我問他：「可以傾兩句嗎？」他友善地答好。佔領區就是這樣，任何人都可以打開話匣子。

KK今年四十九歲，早年因為車禍，腋下失去知覺，只有頭部和左手有活動能力，在輪椅生活了十七年。我問他為何在這裡，原來他是「網台」的粉絲，對政局有一套想法。但他說，因為自己坐輪椅，根本沒辦法到港島佔領區：「金鐘地鐵站無電梯，我都出唔到地鐵站，加上干諾道中咁多石壆，我根本去唔到。」原來他的家就在旺角，私家看護送他下樓，他就可以參與佔領。

KK的話，讓我深切反省。我以前多年採訪殘疾人士政策，知道金鐘地鐵站的問題，沒有直達月台的電梯，只有懸掛在樓梯的「怪獸」，而且每次要召喚地鐵職員才能使用，更經常壞機讓輪椅人士半天吊，令殘疾人士抗拒使用，感覺是一種侮辱。我從沒想過，這個全民運動，若只在金鐘進行，會排斥了這位輪椅人士。

KK形容，那天黑社會大戰警察，他駕駛着電動輪椅，在新填地街亞皆老街衝到警方防線，把警方嚇了一跳，我聽到也抹一把汗，然而他回想起那天的刺激感覺，KK還說得津津有味。他說，現在每天都會休息夠精神，晚上就來旺角佔領區留守。他形容，旺角失守，他就唯有回家收聽網台，不能參與。

我們這些中產，一直口裡說「民主是屬於所有人的」，但抗爭的方式總會有意無意排斥基層與邊緣人士。旺角不能撤，不是因為捍衛金鐘，而是旺角能讓一班一直處於弱勢的市民，在這裡找到「被需要」「被肯定」的充權過程。

Source: http://www.post852.com/8%E4%BB%94%E7%88%86%E6%96%99%E2%94%82%E6%A2%81%E6%8C%AF%E8%8B%B1%E4%B8%80%E6%89%8B%E6%8E%A8%E5%AD%B8%E8%81%AF%E4%BD%9C%E7%94%9F%E6%AD%BB%E6%B1%BA%E9%AC%A5/